Alexander Isak has been accused of “not wanting” Newcastle United to qualify for the Champions League as that would make it harder for him to secure a desired move to Liverpool.
Isak eventually got the move he had been pushing for all summer. To surprisingly little fanfare, Liverpool announced the £125 million ($167.8 million) capture of the Swedish forward on Monday evening. As Isak noted in a brief statement: “It’s been a long journey to get here.”
According to The Guardian, that journey began back in the first half of 2024 when Newcastle’s former minority owner Amanda Staveley supposedly promised Isak a new contract that summer. Staveley was dislodged in June, making way for Paul Mitchell who reportedly withdrew the inflated contract offer.
Isak’s slow start to the 2024–25 campaign—he mustered one league goal over his opening six appearances—was put down to the extension U-turn, which left the Swede “incandescent.”
Eddie Howe managed to cajole Isak back into form, overseeing a prolific run at the turn of the year which was capped by the winning goal in the Carabao Cup final against Liverpool. It was at this point that the 25-year-old became “quiet and withdrawn,” according to The Telegraph.
From that point onwards, the report sensationally claims some inside the club felt Isak was “behaving like someone who did not want the team to qualify for the Champions League.”
Over the period in question, Isak scored four Premier League goals, half of which were penalties. However, only two players in the division racked up a higher non-penalty expected goals tally than Newcastle’s frontman across April and May. What’s more, Isak converted an 89th-minute penalty to earn a crucial point against Brighton & Hove Albion with three games of the campaign remaining.
‘Good Riddance’—Alexander Isak Slammed by Newcastle Fan Group

Newcastle fans began to turn on Isak before he went. The influential supporters’ group Wor Flags, the organisation behind the grand murals at St James’ Park, captured the rancour among the fanbased.
“You were idolised and adored by every generation of our brilliant fan base, legendary status,” the group wrote on Instagram. “You have shown your true colours and thrown it right back in the face of those same supporters.
“Good riddance.”
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This article was originally published on www.si.com as Alexander Isak Faces Shock Newcastle Accusation After Liverpool Move.